aberration
nounUS /ˌæb.əˈɹeɪ.ʃn̩/
Etymology A learned borrowing from Latin aberrātiō(n) (“relief, diversion”), first attested in 1594, from aberrō (“wander away, go astray”), from ab (“away”) + errō (“wander”). Compare French aberration. By surface analysis, aberrat(e) + -ion.
10 senses
- 1The act of wandering; deviation from truth, moral…
- 2The convergence to different foci, by a lens or mirror…
- 3A small periodical change of the apparent positions of…
- 4The tendency of light rays to preferentially strike the…
- 5A partial alienation of reason.
- 6Any creature with supernatural powers not found in the…
- 7A mental disorder, especially one of a minor or…
- 8Atypical development or structure; deviation from the…
- 9A deviation of a tissue, organ or mental functions from…
- 10A defect in an image produced by an optical or…
The act of wandering; deviation from truth, moral rectitude; abnormal; divergence from the straight, correct, proper, normal, or from the natural state.
- the aberration of youth
- aberrations from theory
4 more examples
- aberration of character
- A derailment which occurred on April 18 last between Laindon and Pitsea on the London Tilbury & Southend Line was caused by a lengthman who in a moment of aberration clipped a set of spring catch points in the derailing position, concludes Col. J. R. H. Robertson in his report […].1961 December, “Talking of Trains: Derailment near Laindon”, in Trains Illustrated, page 717:
- The bulk of questionable experimentation upon African Americans is not detailed here because much of it consists of aberrations in therapeutics that were ostensibly meant to cure.2008, Harriet A. Washington, “Introduction”, in Medical Apartheid, Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, page 30:
- Our ancien regime, like the aristocracy of pre-revolutionary France, thought the party would never end. 2016 shook their historicist faith in the arc of the moral universe but by 2020 they hoped to write Trump off as an aberration. In retrospect, 2020 was the aberration, the rearguard action of a struggling regime and its struldbrugg ruler.2025 January 10, Peter Thiel, “A time for truth and reconciliation”, in Financial Times:
Engineering, Natural sciences, Optics, Physical sciences, Physics The convergence to different foci, by a lens or mirror, of rays of light emanating from one and the same point, or the deviation of such rays from a single focus; a defect in a focusing mechanism that prevents the intended focal point.
Astronomy, Natural sciences A small periodical change of the apparent positions of the stars and other heavenly bodies, due to the combined effect of the motion of light and the motion of the observer.
Astronomy, Natural sciences Broadly The tendency of light rays to preferentially strike the leading face of a moving object (the effect underlying the above phenomenon).
A partial alienation of reason.
- Occasional aberrations of intellect1819, John Lingard, The History of England, From the First Invasion by the Romans to the Accession of Henry VIII:
- We see indeed the aberrations of unruly appetite1828, Isaac Taylor, The balance of criminality:
Fantasy Any creature with supernatural powers not found in the organized classes of beings in a given setting.
Roleplaying games
- Only by submitting to the aberration could the human traders travel safely through the territory of Zularn.
A mental disorder, especially one of a minor or temporary character.
Medicine, Sciences A deviation of a tissue, organ or mental functions from what is considered to be within the normal range.
Business, Electrical engineering, Electricity, Electromagnetism, Electronics, Energy, Engineering, Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Physics A defect in an image produced by an optical or electrostatic lens system.
- Derived terms
- aberratic, aberrational, aberrationless, aberration of light, annual aberration, chromatic aberration, crown of aberration, diopteric aberration, diurnal aberration, lateral aberration, longitudinal aberration, mental aberration, microaberration, planetary aberration, spherical aberration